Gervais drew a sharp reaction to his jokes as host last year, with actor Robert Downey Jr. calling the evening mean-spirited. He joked Friday that he came back partly to "annoy" the people who said he'd never be invited back. The Globes will take place on Sunday.

He said at a news conference that he's not trying to hurt anyone or give them a bad night, but ultimately doesn't care what people think. He said: "I stand by my jokes."

Asked who his targets would be this year, he said: "Targets isn't a word I'd use. Subjects."